SBI PO / Clerk General and Banking Awareness Syllabus

Which body regulates the insurance sector in India?

IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India), established in 1999, headquartered in Hyderabad.

Which body regulates pensions in India?

PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority), which administers the National Pension System (NPS).

What is the objective of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)?

Launched in 2014, PMJDY aims at universal financial inclusion by providing every household a basic bank account with no minimum balance, RuPay debit card, accident insurance, and overdraft facility.

Differentiate PMJJBY and PMSBY.

PMJJBY (Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana) is a life insurance scheme covering death from any cause. PMSBY (Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana) is an accident insurance scheme covering accidental death and disability.

What is the Atal Pension Yojana (APY)?

APY is a government-backed pension scheme for unorganized sector workers, guaranteeing a fixed monthly pension (Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000) after age 60 based on contributions.

What is the difference between term insurance and endowment insurance?

Term insurance provides pure life cover for a fixed period with no maturity benefit if the insured survives. Endowment insurance combines life cover with savings, paying a maturity benefit if the insured survives the term.

What is the headquarters and primary purpose of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?

The IMF is headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA; it promotes international monetary cooperation, exchange rate stability, and provides financial assistance to member countries facing balance-of-payments problems.

What is the World Bank, and where is it headquartered?

The World Bank (whose main arm is the IBRD) is headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA; it provides loans and grants for development projects to reduce poverty in developing countries.

Where are the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the New Development Bank (BRICS Bank)?

ADB is headquartered in Manila, Philippines; the New Development Bank (BRICS) is headquartered in Shanghai, China.

Where is the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) headquartered?

Beijing, China.

What is SWIFT in the context of international banking?

SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a global messaging network banks use to securely transmit information and instructions for cross-border financial transactions.

What is the difference between fiscal deficit and revenue deficit?

Fiscal deficit is the excess of total government expenditure over total receipts (excluding borrowings). Revenue deficit is the excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts.

What is inflation, and which index is the main measure of retail inflation in India?

Inflation is the sustained rise in the general price level of goods and services. Retail inflation in India is measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

What is GDP, and which Indian body releases GDP data?

GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a period. In India, the National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI releases GDP data.

What is the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and when was it implemented in India?

GST is a unified indirect tax on the supply of goods and services, implemented in India on 1 July 2017, replacing multiple central and state taxes.

How many fundamental rights are currently guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, and name any three?

There are 6 fundamental rights: Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights, and Right to Constitutional Remedies.

From which countries' constitutions did India borrow the Directive Principles and the Fundamental Rights?

Directive Principles of State Policy were borrowed from Ireland; Fundamental Rights were inspired by the Constitution of the USA.

Who is known as the 'Father of the Indian Constitution', and when did the Constitution come into effect?

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Chairman of the Drafting Committee; the Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950.

What is the preamble's description of India after the 42nd Amendment (1976)?

India is described as a 'Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic' (the words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' were added by the 42nd Amendment).

Which is the longest river in India, and which river is called the 'Ganga of the South'?

The Ganga is the longest river in India; the Godavari is called the 'Ganga of the South' (Dakshina Ganga).

Which Indian state has the longest coastline, and which is the largest state by area?

Gujarat has the longest coastline; Rajasthan is the largest state by area.

What is the difference between Rabi and Kharif crops?

Kharif crops are sown with the monsoon (June-July) and harvested in autumn (e.g., rice, maize, cotton). Rabi crops are sown in winter (October-December) and harvested in spring (e.g., wheat, gram, mustard).

Who founded the Maurya Empire, and who was its most famous emperor associated with Buddhism?

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire; Ashoka the Great was its most famous emperor, who embraced Buddhism after the Kalinga War.

During whose reign was the Taj Mahal built, and by which architectural patron?

The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, at Agra.

Name the classical dance forms associated with Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively.

Bharatanatyam is from Tamil Nadu; Kathakali (and Mohiniyattam) are from Kerala.

What is the difference between a vitamin deficiency causing scurvy versus rickets?

Scurvy is caused by deficiency of Vitamin C; rickets is caused by deficiency of Vitamin D.

What is the chemical symbol and atomic number of gold, and what is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere?

Gold's symbol is Au with atomic number 79; nitrogen is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere (about 78%).

What is the SI unit of force, and who is it named after?

The SI unit of force is the Newton (N), named after Sir Isaac Newton; 1 N = 1 kg·m/s².

What does ISRO stand for, and which mission made India the first country to reach Mars orbit on its first attempt?

ISRO is the Indian Space Research Organisation; the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan, 2014) made India the first country to reach Mars orbit on its first attempt.

What is the deposit insurance cover per depositor per bank in India, and which body provides it?

Deposit insurance covers up to Rs 5 lakh per depositor per bank, provided by the DICGC (Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation), a subsidiary of RBI.